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HSI Lateral Hiring.

BIG has had a couple people reach out to him about upcoming HSI hiring.

So, let BIG say this. Direct hire authority has been given back to the SAC offices. From what BIG has been told we are seeking specialized skill sets, accountants, etc, etc. To nutshell it, HSI will begin lateral hiring again and it seems SAC offices pick lateral hires directly for their offices.

Now the big question on everyone's minds; when, at what grade and how many? BIG would assume the grade would be at a 12, as long as you were a 12 for a year prior to being hired. When and how many, BIG has not a clue.

Regarding the hows, BIG suggests reaching out to any HSI contacts you have for their local recruiters contact info for now. They may have more info, than the limited info, BIG has posted above.

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. - Niccolo Machiavelli

Most people respect the badge, everybody respects the gun.

I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. - Colonel Jessup

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. - Niccolo Machiavelli

Most people respect the badge, everybody respects the gun.

I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. - Colonel Jessup

I've heard the same, that our SAC's have direct hire authority again. I've heard the specialized skill being sought the heaviest is cyber investigations experience and/or IT and network security background. Almost all crime is online these days.

So with direct hire authority are the SACs going to announce through office recruiters? Will there not be a traditional USA Jobs announcement you think? In that case should those with lateral qualifications reach out directly to SAC recruiters? I wonder if they're not doing any standard 5-7 or 7-9 announcement at all on USAJobs?

HSI was approved for direct hire authority by OPM, which will make it easier for them to recruit for critical skills like cyber, language, and such. The plan for implementing this has not been finalized, but it is unlikely to be "SAC hiring" in the sense selections were made by each office to fill their own local vacancies in years gone by and more likely to be targeted for hard to staff locations. While it's good for the agency and should help bring hiring more in line with their staffing needs, and more in line with other alphabet soup agencies that already have direct hire authority in one form or another, I would not read too much into it until they have a hiring plan inane guidance in place for recruiters and field offices.

In other equally important news, HSI has officially finalized physical fitness testing standards and all HSISAT students must pass it in order to graduate. My understanding from academy instructor friends is that this takes effect this month. There is no change for age or gender. Same for all students.

HSI was approved for direct hire authority by OPM, which will make it easier for them to recruit for critical skills like cyber, language, and such. The plan for implementing this has not been finalized, but it is unlikely to be "SAC hiring" in the sense selections were made by each office to fill their own local vacancies in years gone by and more likely to be targeted for hard to staff locations. While it's good for the agency and should help bring hiring more in line with their staffing needs, and more in line with other alphabet soup agencies that already have direct hire authority in one form or another, I would not read too much into it until they have a hiring plan inane guidance in place for recruiters and field offices.

So does this mean more that SACs will have more ability to decide who to hire after the creation of an announcement and the candidates get their way? Just trying to better understand this

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. - Niccolo Machiavelli

Most people respect the badge, everybody respects the gun.

I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. - Colonel Jessup

So does this mean more that SACs will have more ability to decide who to hire after the creation of an announcement and the candidates get their way? Just trying to better understand this

It's more likely to mean the SACs will have more say at the front end, that is identifying and recommending candidates who will move forward into the hiring process. In other words, the agency identifies its hiring priorities and field offices can identify candidates who fit that criteria. This would allow for more focused recruiting to address critical needs like cyber, language, whatever. But still a lot of questions on this until the agency has its policy in place and guidance to the field.

In other equally important news, HSI has officially finalized physical fitness testing standards and all HSISAT students must pass it in order to graduate. My understanding from academy instructor friends is that this takes effect this month. There is no change for age or gender. Same for all students.

Wonder how this will apply to classes currently in session. Based on what I've seen (admittedly judging solely on appearances) a good number of current HSI trainees at FLETC will struggle to pass this. I'd like to see ATF set our female standards here as well.

I'm only occasionally at the academy to teach, but I know what you're saying about students not looking like they could pass. I'm far from a PT stud and truth be told, it always required preparation on my part to pass PT tests for my previous LE jobs. But I did prepare and pass and that's what I would expect of new recruits.

Honestly, the best agents are good interviewers, good social butterflies that can network and talk to anyone from various walks of life, aggressive enough and self-starting to go after a case, and a good writer to knock out the affidavits that invariably will be needed. But I do value having some fitness standards in the application process as well as maintaining a general level of fitness throughout the career.

At the application and academy level, a fitness standard shows that an applicant is motivated and wants the job enough that they put in a little effort to get it. Throughout our career, we deal with various forms of stress and a decent amount of regular physical activity significantly helps our bodies handle it. It's a safety issue on the job as well as for our own well being. Again, I'm just talking about having a regular source of physical activity... not saying agents have to be in the gym everyday and ready to try out for SRT.

So my understanding is this PT standard applies to any and all classes who have not yet begun HSISAT, which is the agency specific portion that follows right after CITP. So students currently in CITP will be required to pass this test in order to graduate HSISAT. Again, just what I was told and how I understood it.

The poly will become standard part of our hiring process soon as well. There's word an entry level announcement for the public is coming out this summer and my guess is that announcement will include it.

Honestly, the best agents are good interviewers, good social butterflies that can network and talk to anyone from various walks of life, aggressive enough and self-starting to go after a case, and a good writer to knock out the affidavits that invariably will be needed. But I do value having some fitness standards in the application process as well as maintaining a general level of fitness throughout the career.

I agree completely. ATF likes to make our academy hard for the sake of doing so, and my personal opinion is that the vast majority of the ATF SRT goobers dressed in multi-cam couldn't investigate their way to lunch, much less document it. Nevertheless, they dominate the academy. That said, I would like to know that a cover team can physically run 200 yards in full gear and fight when they get there.

I also agree that the need for a PT test at any agency is as much a demonstration of an applicants' self discipline as it is of any practical skill.